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Spruce Railroad Trail — Jul. 28, 2017

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
1 photo
LostWisconsinite
WTA Member
Outstanding Trip Reporter
25
Beware of: bugs

4 people found this report helpful

 

We didn't finish the entire trail since it was late evening, but I'm happy to report that it is clearThe tunnel is open and the punchbowl (just off to the side of the tunnel) is inviting.

Spruce Railroad Trail — May. 28, 2017

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
Beware of: trail conditions

6 people found this report helpful

 

Technically it's closed. The railroad tunnel is closed for work but there's a trail off to the side that's perfectly safe and your able to bipass the tunnel. Beautiful hike along the lake. Cliff jumping is a must, only if you're brace enough for the 50ft drop

Spruce Railroad Trail — May. 21, 2017

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
3 photos
  • Wildflowers blooming
 
Don't let the "TRAIL CLOSED" warnings stop you from enjoying the western 3-4.2 miles of this amazing trail. Drive west around Lake Crescent on US101 to the first right turn at the Fairholm area onto Camp David Road. The paved road ends and you slow for sandy/muddy road that's wide enough for two cars to pass in most places. In about 3 miles you reach the "Ovington" area at newly ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps uphill to the Pyramid Peak trailhead and the paved section of the Spruce RR Trail; park along the road or in the North Shore Day Use Area parking lot, which has a pit toilet. You can start your hike here, heading east along the SRRT's easternmost 1.6 paved miles and continuing on the dirt trail beyond. Or you could stay in your car for the last 1.6 narrow dirt road miles of Camp David road and shave that distance from your hike. The SRRT is high above the lake at Ovington and gradually descends to run lakeside. From the end of the paved trail section to the construction was about 2.6 mikes; signs declared that Devil's Punch Bowl (the swimming hole with steel bridge) was open, but that proved untrue. Nonetheless there was plenty of good hike available. At 1 mile from the end of the paved section, the not-yet-cleared eastern tunnel still requires a detour hugging the shoreline. We saw lots of multicolor sedum and a trilium or two along the way. On this warm and sunny Sunday, our party of 4+dog encountered 4 mountain bikers and 5 hikers during our 4-hour, 8.5-mile roundtrip. Glorious!

Spruce Railroad Trail — Sep. 30, 2016

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast

3 people found this report helpful

 
CLOSED FOR THE SEASON on the east end. We found this out the hard way. Apparently they've closed it in order to finish paving it. About a mile is open on the Camp David side but we wanted more of a challenge. The trail status is here: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wilderness-trail-conditions.htm#CP_JUMP_450763

Spruce Railroad Trail — Sep. 19, 2016

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast
 
We started at the western TH (Camp David Rd) and hiked to the Punch Bowl and back. Mostly a lovely solitary hike with beautiful views into and across the lake. We didn't encounter people until quite close to the Punch Bowl (all of whom had started from the other end of the trail). Also saw three deer both coming and going.